Word: palestinians
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...January, Hamas stunned the world by winning a majority in Palestinian parliamentary elections, and on March 29 the militant Islamic group officially took power. That turned out to be the easy part: so far, instead of implementing its own agenda, the new ruling party has been scrambling to respond to the consequences of victory, particularly a freeze in funding to the Palestinian government by the U.S., the E.U. and some of its members. Throughout Gaza last week, the difficulties of actually governing Palestinians could be seen everywhere. Forlorn workers from the Palestinian Economic and Development Authority, which operates greenhouses abandoned...
...goats were happy, but the people feeding them were forlorn as they dumped loads of unsellable cherry tomatoes in the scrub of central Gaza. Hundreds of tons of the vegetable used to be exported from the area, but last week the Palestinian Economic and Development Authority, which operates greenhouses abandoned by Israeli settlers, could only trash much of the crop. Since Hamas' electoral victory in the Palestinian territories, Israel has, in effect, blocked commerce by virtually sealing the borders, citing continued attacks by Palestinian militants. The closings also prevent almost all imports. Now anxious U.N. workers in Gaza City fret...
Since taking power on March 29, Hamas, refusing to recognize Israel's right to exist, has been scrambling to respond to the chief consequences of victory: a freeze in funding to the Palestinian government by the U.S. and many members of the European Union. For now, Hamas leaders, facing dwindling postelection optimism, can be glad that popular frustration and anger are pointed at Israel, the U.S. and Europe. Flexibility on the part of the international community would ease their difficulties, but meanwhile Hamas must find a way to stem the crisis or risk having opprobrium turned...
...maneuvering: most international capitals have chosen not to receive Hamas' leaders. Pledges of funding from a handful of Arab countries--even if delivered--wouldn't make up the financial shortfall. Israel has suspended monthly payments of approximately $50 million in tax and customs revenues it collects for the Palestinians. And it will not talk to Hamas until it halts attacks on Israel by all Palestinian factions. Even as Hamas, which has itself held to a cease-fire, tries to stem attacks by other militants, Israel says it will continue to retaliate, increasing economic damage...
...editors: In his recent piece on the implications of cutting U.S. aid to the Palestinian people (“Wielding Aid Against Democracy,” op-ed, Apr. 6), David DeBartolo demonstrated a rare grasp of the intricacies of aid politics and the importance of far-sightedness and cultural insight in U.S. foreign policy. As an American Harvard graduate employed by a U.S.-funded program for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, I live the new post-Palestinian election reality, in which Palestinians feel rightly proud of holding successful democratic elections (despite an ongoing military occupation) and hopeful that...